A mum who has breached her community order three times, has narrowly escaped staying in jail over Christmas.

Leanne Carnell, aged 26, of Penrhys Road, Ystrad, who has a young son , was given a 14-day sentence for the third breach of the order given in October 2005 for drink driving.

Of the 14-day sentence she will only serve half, meaning she will be out for Christmas.

She was given the original 100-hour community order following a crash on August 28, 2005, at Tyntyla Road, Ystrad. Miss Carnell was found to have 93milligrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

Defending, Pat Matthews said:

'It's a terrible time for a young boy to lose his mother.'

District Judge Vivian Manning-Davies told the court that it was a modest order that should have been completed a long time ago.

He said: '

I have been asked to give you another chance and you have already had two, I don't think you deserve another chance. I'm going to revoke this order and sentence you for 14 days which will mean your son won't see you for a week.'